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168 Hours Method

Time management philosophy by Laura Vanderkam based on viewing time as a weekly resource of 168 hours, encouraging tracking to understand actual time usage and make intentional choices about priorities.

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Last updated: 2026-03-19 09:42

Overview

The 168 Hours Method, developed by author Laura Vanderkam, is a time management philosophy centered on the reality that everyone has exactly 168 hours per week. It emphasizes tracking time to understand actual usage versus perceived usage, then making intentional choices to align time with priorities.

Core Philosophy

The method challenges the notion that "there's not enough time" by:

The 168-Hour Framework

Weekly Breakdown:

Those 62 remaining hours represent substantial time for family, hobbies, fitness, relationships, and personal projects.

Step 1: Track Your 168 Hours

Process:

  1. Track every activity for one full week
  2. Record in 30-minute increments
  3. Be honest and specific
  4. Note both duration and activity type
  5. Include weekends (often revealing eye-opening patterns)

Categories to Track:

Step 2: Analyze the Data

Key Questions:

Common Discoveries:

Step 3: Redesign Your 168 Hours

Priority-Based Allocation:

  1. Identify Core Priorities: What truly matters most?
  2. Reserve Time First: Block time for priorities before filling schedule
  3. Protect High-Value Time: Guard most productive hours
  4. Minimize or Eliminate: Reduce low-value activities
  5. Batch Similar Tasks: Group to save switching time
  6. Leverage Small Pockets: Use 15-minute gaps effectively

Key Principles

Fill Life Before Work Fills It

"If you don't plan your life, someone else will plan it for you." Proactively schedule personal priorities before reactive work fills all time.

Outsource and Minimize

Math matters: if your time is worth $50/hour, paying someone $20/hour for house cleaning buys you time for higher-value activities.

Use All 168 Hours

Weekends and evenings are half of waking hours. The 168-hour view prevents "weekday tunnel vision."

Build in Sleep

Adequate sleep (56 hours/week) isn't negotiable—it enables effective use of waking hours.

Practical Applications

For Parents

For Professionals

For Anyone Feeling "Busy"

Time Tracking Tools for 168 Hours

Common Insights from Tracking

Revealed Time Leaks:

Discovered Opportunities:

Benefits of the 168-Hour View

Making It Sustainable

  1. Track Annually: Full week tracking 2-4 times per year
  2. Weekly Reviews: 10-minute check on time allocation
  3. Flexible Structure: Framework, not rigid schedule
  4. Forgive Imperfection: Some weeks diverge from plan
  5. Adjust as Needed: Life changes, time allocation should too

Related Concepts

Who Should Use This Method

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